The Westgate School

3 Personalities that Changed English Literature

Yasmin and Backy

Enid Blyton

11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968

She was an English children’s writer whose books have been among the world’s bestsellers since the 1930’s.

She has sold more than 600 million copies and her books have been translated into almost 90 languages.

She wrote a wide range of topic including education, natural history, fantasy, mystery stories and biblical

narratives.

She is best known for her Noddy, Famous Five, and Secret Seven series.

Following the commercial success of her early novels such as The Enchanted Wood, Blyton went on to build a literary empire, sometimes producing 50 books a year.

The sheer volume of her work and the speed with which her work was produced led to rumours that she

employed an army of ghost writers, something she vigorously denied.

In her lifetime Enid Blyton wrote:

- 186 novels/novelettes- 258 character books

- 946 short story series books- 267 education books- 214 recreation books- 187 continuation books

- 284 Enid Blyton contributions

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKluTnhZmgM

Carol Ann Duffy

23 December 1955 – Present

A renowned Scottish Poet and playwrightwhose work has been featured in many famous books.

Her work often address problems in society. Examples include Gender, Oppression and Violence

Carol Ann Duffy is one of the most significant names in contemporary British poetry, has achieved that rare feat

of both critical and commercial success.

She is a Professor of Contemporary Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She was appointed Britain’s Poet Laureate in May 2009. She is the first woman, and first openly lesbian to hold

the position.

Her poems are studied in British schools at GCSE, National 5, A Level and Higher Levels.

In 2011 Duffy spearheaded a new poetry competition for schools, named Anthologise. The competition is

administered by the Poetry Book Society and was launched by the HRH the Duchess of Cornwall in September 2011.

School students aged 11-18 from around the UK were invited to create and submit their own anthologies of published

poetry.

Duffy’s work explores both everyday experience’s and the rich fantasy life of herself and others.

In dramatising scenes from childhood, adolescence and adult life, she discovers moments of consolation

through love, memory and language.

Despite her work being accused of being too populist, on a whole her work is highly acclaimed for being both

literary and accessible and she is regarded as one of Britain’s most well-loved and successful poet.

Charles Dickens

7th February 1812 – 9th June 1870

Was born in a town called Landport in Hampshire.

He was a famous English writer and social critic.A social critic is someone who criticises the social

structure of Society.

His work mostly is between a mixture of fantasy and realism.

His famous works include: A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. An

example would be how A Tale of Two Cities deals with revolution and duality and how it led to the American

and French Revolution

Before becoming a world renowned author, Charles Dickens worked as a journalist for the newspaper in

the House of Commons.

These books have created a lasting effect on the future generations and have paved ways for authors who are looking to create more traditional stories.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Dickens&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=5F4D

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